Billboard (magazine)

==History==

===Early history===
[[File:Billboard, November 1, 1894 first issue.png|thumb|left|upright|First issue of ''Billboard'' (1894)]]
The first issue of ''Billboard'' was published in [[Cincinnati]], Ohio by William Donaldson and James Hennegan on November 1, 1894.<ref name="LampelLant"/><ref name="Broven 2009 p. 187">{{cite book |last=Broven | first=J. |title=Record Makers and Breakers: Voices of the Independent Rock 'n' Roll Pioneers |publisher=University of Illinois Press |series=Music in American life |year=2009 | isbn=978-0-252-03290-5 | url=https://archive.org/details/recordmakersbrea0000brov |url-access=registration | access-date=November 5, 2015 | page=[https://archive.org/details/recordmakersbrea0000brov/page/187 187]}}</ref> Initially it covered the advertising and [[Flyposting|bill-posting]] industry<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Gary|last=Trust|title=The First Billboard: All That Was 'New, Bright and Interesting on the Boards'|url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/first-billboard-issue-november-1-1894/|magazine=Billboard|date=November 1, 2021|access-date=October 1, 2022|url-access=subscription|archive-date=November 1, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171101232809/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/6746273/first-billboard-issue-november-1-1894|url-status=live}}</ref> and was known as '''''Billboard Advertising'''''.<ref name="Gussow. 2015">{{cite book|last=Gussow.|first=Don|title=The New Business of Journalism: An Insider's Look at the Workings of America's Business Press|date=1984|publisher=Harcourt Brace Jovanovich|isbn=978-0-15-165202-0|pages=[https://archive.org/details/newbusinessjourn0000guss/page/32 32–33]|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/newbusinessjourn0000guss/page/32}}</ref><ref name="godfrey"/>{{efn|Some sources say it was called ''The Billboard Advertiser''<ref name="LampelLant"/>}} At the time, billboards, posters, and paper advertisements placed in public spaces were the primary means of advertising.<ref name="godfrey"/> Donaldson handled editorial and advertising, while Hennegan, who owned Hennegan Printing Co., managed magazine production. The first issues were just eight pages long.<ref name="HighBeam Business: Arrive Prepared 1994">{{cite news | title=Hall of fame. (history's top personalities in the live entertainment and amusement industry) (One hundredth-anniversary collector's edition) |website=Amusement Business| date=November 1, 1994 | url=http://business.highbeam.com/53/article-1G1-15906377/hall-fame | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151224000221/https://business.highbeam.com/53/article-1G1-15906377/hall-fame | url-status=dead | archive-date=December 24, 2015 |access-date=November 7, 2015}}</ref> The paper had columns such as The Bill Room Gossip and The Indefatigable and Tireless Industry of the Bill Poster.<ref name="LampelLant"/> A department for agricultural fairs was established in 1896.<ref name="on Project 1943 p. 184"/> The ''Billboard Advertising'' publication was renamed '''''The Billboard''''' in 1897.<ref name="booksdirectory">{{cite book|title=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|volume=98|publisher=International Directory of Company Histories|first=Ed|last=Dinger|pages=260–265}}</ref>

After a brief departure over editorial differences, Donaldson purchased Hennegan's interest in the business in 1900 for $500 (equal to ${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US-GDP|500|1900|r=-2}}}} today) to save it from bankruptcy.<ref name="HighBeam Business: Arrive Prepared 1994"/><ref name="Hoffmann 2004 p. 212"/> On May 5, Donaldson changed the publication from a monthly to a weekly paper with a greater emphasis on breaking news. He improved editorial quality and opened new offices in New York, Chicago, San Francisco, London, and Paris,<ref name="booksdirectory"/><ref name="Hoffmann 2004 p. 212"/> and also refocused the magazine on outdoor entertainment such as fairs, carnivals, circuses, [[vaudeville]], and burlesque shows.<ref name="LampelLant"/><ref name="booksdirectory"/> A section devoted to circuses was introduced in 1900, followed by more prominent coverage of outdoor events in 1901.<ref name="on Project 1943 p. 184"/> ''Billboard'' also covered topics including regulation, professionalism, economics and new shows. It had a "stage gossip" column covering the private lives of entertainers, a "tent show" section covering traveling shows and a subsection called "Freaks to order".<ref name="LampelLant"/> Donaldson also published news articles opposing censorship, supporting productions exhibiting good taste and decrying [[yellow journalism]]."<ref name="Radel 1994"/>

As railroads became more developed, ''Billboard'' enabled a mail-forwarding system for traveling entertainers. The location of an entertainer was tracked in the paper's Routes Ahead column, and then ''Billboard'' would receive mail on the star's behalf and publish a notice in its Letter-Box column that it had mail for him or her.<ref name="LampelLant"/> This service was first introduced in 1904 and became one of ''Billboard''{{'}}s largest sources of profit<ref name="Radel 1994"/> and celebrity connections.<ref name="LampelLant"/> By 1914, 42,000 people were using the service.<ref name="HighBeam Business: Arrive Prepared 1994"/> It was also used as the official address of traveling entertainers for draft letters during [[World War I]].<ref name="newsweek">{{cite news|newspaper=Newsweek|date=April 4, 1949|title=New Boss for Billboard|pages=57–58}}</ref> In the 1960s, when the service was discontinued, ''Billboard'' was still processing 1,500 letters per week.<ref name="Radel 1994"/>

In 1920, Donaldson controversially hired black journalist James Albert Jackson to write a weekly column devoted to black performers.<ref name="LampelLant"/> According to ''The Business of Culture: Strategic Perspectives on Entertainment and Media'', the column identified discrimination against black performers and helped validate their careers.<ref name="LampelLant"/> Jackson was the first black critic at a national magazine with a predominantly white audience. According to his grandson, Donaldson also established a policy against identifying performers by their race.<ref name="Radel 1994"/> Donaldson died in 1925.<ref name="LampelLant"/>

===Focus on music===
''Billboard''{{'}}s editorial content changed focus as technology in recording and playback developed, covering "marvels of modern technology" such as the [[phonograph]] and wireless radios.<ref name="LampelLant"/> The magazine began covering coin-operated entertainment machines in 1899 and created a dedicated section called Amusement Machines in March 1932.<ref name="Hoffmann 2004 p. 212"/> ''Billboard'' began covering the motion-picture industry in 1907<ref name="on Project 1943 p. 184"/> but, facing strong competition from ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'', centered its focus on music.<ref name="Bloom 2013 p. 83">{{cite book | last=Bloom | first=K. | title=Broadway: An Encyclopedia | publisher=Taylor & Francis | year=2013 | isbn=978-1-135-95020-0 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ib2awFyFUKoC&pg=PT83 | access-date=November 6, 2015 | page=83 | archive-date=March 16, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220316160535/https://books.google.com/books?id=Ib2awFyFUKoC&pg=PT83 | url-status=live }}</ref> It created a radio-broadcasting station in the 1920s.<ref name="booksdirectory"/>

The jukebox industry continued to grow through the [[Great Depression]] and was advertised heavily in ''Billboard'',<ref name="booksdirectory"/>{{rp|262}} which led to even more editorial focus on music.<ref name="booksdirectory"/> The proliferation of the phonograph and radio also contributed to its growing music emphasis.<ref name="booksdirectory"/> ''Billboard'' published the first [[Billboard charts|music hit parade]] on January 4, 1936<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/sixty-years-of-hits-from-sinatra-to-sinatra-1322429.html | title=Sixty years of hits, from Sinatra to ... Sinatra | first=Jonathan | last=Sale | date=January 4, 1996 | work=[[The Independent]] | access-date=January 3, 2017 | archive-date=January 3, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170103170756/http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/sixty-years-of-hits-from-sinatra-to-sinatra-1322429.html | url-status=live }}</ref> and introduced a Record Buying Guide in January 1939.<ref name="Hoffmann 2004 p. 212"/> In 1940, it introduced Chart Line, which tracked the best-selling records, and was followed by a chart for jukebox records in 1944 called Music Box Machine.<ref name="booksdirectory"/><ref name="Hoffmann 2004 p. 212"/> By the 1940s, ''Billboard'' was more of a music-industry specialist publication.<ref name="Gussow. 2015"/> The number of charts that it published grew after [[World War II]], as new music interests and genres became popular. It had eight charts by 1987, covering different genres and formats,<ref name="Hoffmann 2004 p. 212"/> and 28 charts by 1994.<ref name="Radel 1994"/>

By 1943, ''Billboard'' had about 100 employees.<ref name="on Project 1943 p. 184">{{cite book | author=Writers' Program of the Works Projects Administration in the State of Ohio | title=Cincinnati, a Guide to the Queen City and Its Neighbors | publisher=Best Books | year=1943 | isbn=978-1-62376-051-9 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dW-52BWC4LoC&pg=PA184 | access-date=November 7, 2015 | page=184 | archive-date=December 13, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201213225718/https://books.google.com/books?id=dW-52BWC4LoC&pg=PA184 | url-status=live }}</ref> The magazine's offices moved to Brighton, Ohio in 1946, then to New York City in 1948.<ref name="Radel 1994"/> A five-column tabloid format was adopted in November 1950 and coated paper was first used in ''Billboard''{{'}}s print issues in January 1963, allowing for photojournalism.<ref name="Hoffmann 2004 p. 212"/> Sometime prior to September 1960, the name had been changed to '''''The Billboard'''''.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=The Billboard |magazine=The Billboard<!--- The Billboard was its name in September 1960 ---> |date=September 19, 1960 |volume=72 |issue=38 |pages=1–96, see in particular p. 1 Cover and p. 2 Imprint/Masthead |location=New York City |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/60s/1960/Billboard%201960-09-19.pdf? |access-date=October 29, 2022 |archive-date=October 7, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221007235254/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/60s/1960/Billboard%201960-09-19.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

''Billboard Publications Inc.'' acquired a monthly trade magazine for candy and cigarette machine vendors called ''Vend'', and in the 1950s it acquired an advertising trade publication called ''Tide''.<ref name="booksdirectory"/> By 1969, Billboard Publications Inc. owned 11 trade and consumer publications, [[Watson-Guptill]] Publications, a set of self-study cassette tapes and four television franchises. It also acquired ''Photo Weekly'' that year.<ref name="booksdirectory"/>

Over time, subjects that ''Billboard'' covered outside of the music world formed the basis of separate publications: ''Funspot'' magazine was created in 1957 to cover amusement parks and ''Amusement Business'' was created in 1961 to cover outdoor entertainment. In January 1961, ''Billboard'' was renamed '''''Billboard Music Week'''''<ref name="godfrey"/><ref name="booksdirectory"/> to emphasize its newly exclusive interest in music.<ref name="Bloom 2013 p. 83"/> Two years later, it was renamed to simply ''Billboard''.<ref name="booksdirectory"/><ref name="Hoffmann 2004 p. 212"/> According to ''The New Business Journalism'', by 1984, Billboard Publications was a "prosperous" conglomerate of trade magazines, and ''Billboard'' had become the "undisputed leader" in music-industry news.<ref name="Gussow. 2015"/> In the early 1990s, ''Billboard'' introduced ''Billboard Airplay Monitors'', a publication for disc jockeys and music programmers.<ref name="godfrey"/> By the end of the 1990s, ''Billboard'' dubbed itself the "bible" of the recording industry.<ref name="godfrey">{{Cite book |title=Historical Dictionary of American Radio |first1=Donald G. |last1=Godfrey |first2=Frederic A. |last2=Leigh |year=1998 |publisher=Greenwood Press |location=Westport, CT |isbn=978-0-313-29636-9|page=45}}</ref>

===Changes in ownership===
''Billboard'' struggled after its founder William Donaldson died in 1925, and within three years, was once again heading towards [[bankruptcy]].<ref name="booksdirectory"/> Donaldson's son-in-law Roger Littleford took command in 1928 and "nursed the publication back to health."<ref name="booksdirectory"/><ref name="newsweek"/> His sons Bill and Roger became co-publishers in 1946<ref name="newsweek"/> and inherited the magazine in the late 1970s after Littleford's death.<ref name="booksdirectory"/> They sold it to private investors in 1985 for an estimated $40&nbsp;million.<ref name="Jackson Keller Flood 2010 p. 638"/> The investors cut costs and acquired a trade publication for the [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] theatre industry called ''Backstage''.<ref name="booksdirectory"/>

In 1987, ''Billboard'' was sold again to Affiliated Publications for $100&nbsp;million.<ref name="Jackson Keller Flood 2010 p. 638">{{cite book | last1=Jackson | first1=K.T. | last2=Keller | first2=L. | last3=Flood | first3=N. | title=The Encyclopedia of New York City: Second Edition | publisher=Yale University Press | year=2010 | isbn=978-0-300-18257-6 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lI5ERUmHf3YC&pg=PT638 | access-date=November 5, 2015 | page=638 | archive-date=March 16, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220316160539/https://books.google.com/books?id=lI5ERUmHf3YC&pg=PT638 | url-status=live }}</ref> Billboard Publications Inc. became a subsidiary of Affiliated Publications called BPI Communications.<ref name="booksdirectory"/> As BPI Communications, it acquired ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]'', ''[[Adweek]]'', ''[[Marketing Week]]'' and ''[[Mediaweek (American magazine)|Mediaweek]]'', and also purchased [[Nielsen Broadcast Data Systems|Broadcast Data Systems]], a high-tech firm for tracking music airtime.<ref name="booksdirectory"/> Private investors from Boston Ventures and BPI executives repurchased a two-thirds interest in Billboard Publications for $100&nbsp;million, and more acquisitions followed. In 1993, it created a division known as Billboard Music Group for music-related publications.<ref name="booksdirectory"/>

In 1994, Billboard Publications was sold to Dutch media conglomerate [[Verenigde Nederlandse Uitgeverijen]] (VNU) for $220&nbsp;million.<ref name="The New York Times 1994">{{cite web | title=Dutch Buyer Acquires BPI | website=The New York Times | date=January 15, 1994 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/01/15/business/company-news-dutch-buyer-acquires-bpi.html | access-date=October 10, 2015 | archive-date=December 23, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151223193744/http://www.nytimes.com/1994/01/15/business/company-news-dutch-buyer-acquires-bpi.html | url-status=live }}</ref>{{efn|19 publications according to the ''Chicago Tribune''<ref name="tribunedigital-chicagotribune 1994">{{cite news | title=Dutch Firm To Purchase Billboard, Film Magazine | newspaper=Chicago Tribune | date=January 17, 1994 | url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1994-01-17/business/9401170084_1_boston-ventures-hollywood-reporter-entertainment-news-wire | access-date=October 10, 2015 | archive-date=December 23, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151223235626/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1994-01-17/business/9401170084_1_boston-ventures-hollywood-reporter-entertainment-news-wire | url-status=dead }}</ref>}} VNU acquired the [[Clio Awards]] in advertising and the National Research Group in 1997, as well as ''[[Editor & Publisher]]'' in 1999. In July 2000, it paid $650&nbsp;million to the publisher [[Miller Freeman, Inc.|Miller Freeman]]. BPI was combined with other entities in VNU in 2000 to form Bill Communications Inc. By the time CEO Gerald Hobbs retired in 2003, VNU had grown substantially larger, but had a great deal of debt from the acquisitions. An attempted $7&nbsp;billion acquisition of [[IMS Health]] in 2005 prompted protests from shareholders that halted the deal; it eventually agreed to an $11&nbsp;billion takeover bid from investors in 2006.<ref name="booksdirectory"/>

VNU changed its name to [[Nielsen N.V.|Nielsen]] in 2007, the namesake of a company that it had acquired for $2.5&nbsp;billion in 1999.<ref name="WSJ 1999">{{cite news | title=VNU to Buy Nielsen Media In Deal Valued at $2.5 Billion | newspaper=The Wall Street Journal | date=August 17, 1999 | url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB934790785976203829 | access-date=October 10, 2015 | archive-date=December 13, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201213225803/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB934790785976203829 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Deliso 2007">{{cite web | last=Deliso | first=Meredith | title=VNU Changes Name to the Nielsen Co. | website=Advertising Age | date=January 18, 2007 | url=http://adage.com/article/media/vnu-nielsen/114382/ | access-date=October 10, 2015 | archive-date=December 23, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151223190633/http://adage.com/article/media/vnu-nielsen/114382/ | url-status=live }}</ref> New CEO Robert Krakoff divested some of the previously owned publications, restructured the organization and planned some acquisitions before dying suddenly in 2007. He was subsequently replaced by Greg Farrar.<ref name="booksdirectory"/>

Nielsen owned ''Billboard'' until 2009, when it was one of eight publications sold to e5 Global Media Holdings. e5 was formed by investment firms Pluribus Capital Management and [[Guggenheim Partners]] for the purpose of the acquisition.<ref name="Ives 2009">{{cite web | last=Ives | first=Nat | title=Adweek Group Among Titles Sold to e5 Global Media Holdings | website=Advertising Age | date=December 10, 2009 | url=http://adage.com/article/media/media-news-adweek-sold-e5-global-media-holdings/140994/ | access-date=October 11, 2015 | archive-date=December 24, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151224052542/http://adage.com/article/media/media-news-adweek-sold-e5-global-media-holdings/140994/ | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Los Angeles Times 2009">{{cite web | title=Hollywood Reporter, Billboard sold | website=Los Angeles Times | date=December 10, 2009 | url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2009/12/hollywood-reporter-billboard-sold.html | access-date=October 12, 2015 | archive-date=September 18, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200918103938/https://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2009/12/hollywood-reporter-billboard-sold.html | url-status=live }}</ref> The following year, the new parent company was renamed [[Prometheus Global Media]].<ref name="Folio: 2010">{{cite web | title=What's in a Name? | website=Folio | date=October 15, 2010 | url=http://www.foliomag.com/2010/whats-name/ | access-date=October 11, 2015 | archive-date=March 4, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304052614/http://www.foliomag.com/2010/whats-name/ | url-status=live }}</ref> Three years later, Guggenheim Partners acquired Pluribus' share of Prometheus and became the sole owner of ''Billboard''.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/3ed4fe46-5f2d-11e2-9f18-00144feab49a.html|title=Former Yahoo chief moves to Guggenheim|last=Steel|first=Emily|newspaper=Financial Times|date=January 15, 2013|access-date=January 15, 2016|archive-date=March 16, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220316160545/https://www.ft.com/content/3ed4fe46-5f2d-11e2-9f18-00144feab49a|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Numbers 2013">{{cite web | title=Yahoo Exec Tapped To Head Prometheus Global Media | website=Folio | date=January 15, 2013 | url=http://www.foliomag.com/2013/yahoo-exec-tapped-head-prometheus-global-media/ | access-date=January 11, 2016 | archive-date=May 29, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160529163647/http://www.foliomag.com/2013/yahoo-exec-tapped-head-prometheus-global-media/ | url-status=live }}</ref>

In December 2015, Guggenheim Digital Media spun out several media brands, including ''Billboard'', to its own executive [[Todd Boehly]].<ref name=deadline-guggensell>{{cite web|title=Guggenheim Prepares To Sell Hollywood Reporter, Dick Clark Productions To Exec|url=https://deadline.com/2015/12/guggenheim-partners-sell-hollywood-reporter-dick-clark-productions-todd-boehly-1201668970/|website=Deadline.com|access-date=December 18, 2015|date=December 17, 2015|archive-date=June 20, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170620201145/http://deadline.com/2015/12/guggenheim-partners-sell-hollywood-reporter-dick-clark-productions-todd-boehly-1201668970/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=thewrap-todd>{{cite web|title=Guggenheim Media Spins Off Money-Losing Hollywood Reporter, Billboard to Company President Todd Boehly (Exclusive)|url=https://www.thewrap.com/guggenheim-media-spins-off-hollywood-reporter-billboard-to-company-president-todd-boehly-exclusive/|website=The Wrap|access-date=December 18, 2015|date=December 17, 2015|archive-date=December 20, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151220003424/http://www.thewrap.com/guggenheim-media-spins-off-hollywood-reporter-billboard-to-company-president-todd-boehly-exclusive/|url-status=live}}</ref> The assets operate under the Hollywood Reporter-Billboard Media Group, a unit of the holding company [[Eldridge Industries]].<ref name="bloomberg-draftkingsfund">{{cite news|title=Dodgers' Boehly Leads $100 Million DraftKings Investment|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-03-09/dodgers-boehly-said-to-lead-100-million-draftkings-investment|newspaper=Bloomberg.com|date=March 9, 2017 |access-date=March 10, 2017|archive-date=March 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170309224456/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-03-09/dodgers-boehly-said-to-lead-100-million-draftkings-investment|url-status=live}}</ref>

===1990s–present===
[[Timothy White (editor)|Timothy White]] was appointed editor-in-chief in 1991, a position that he held until his unexpected death in 2002. White wrote a weekly column promoting music with "artistic merit" while criticizing music with violent or misogynistic themes,<ref name="latimes 2002">{{cite news | title=Timothy White, 50; Editor Revolutionized Billboard Magazine | newspaper=Los Angeles Times | date=June 28, 2002 | url=https://articles.latimes.com/2002/jun/28/local/me-white28 | access-date=November 5, 2015 | archive-date=November 22, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151122135442/http://articles.latimes.com/2002/jun/28/local/me-white28 | url-status=live }}</ref> and also reworked the publication's music charts.<ref name="latimes 2002"/> Rather than relying on data from music retailers, new charts used data from store checkout scanners obtained by [[Nielsen SoundScan]].<ref name="booksdirectory"/> White also wrote in-depth profiles on musicians,<ref name="Pareles 2002">{{cite web | last=Pareles | first=Jon | title=Timothy White, 50, Billboard Editor in Chief | website=The New York Times | date=July 1, 2002 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/07/01/arts/timothy-white-50-billboard-editor-in-chief.html | access-date=November 5, 2015 | archive-date=December 13, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201213225920/https://www.nytimes.com/2002/07/01/arts/timothy-white-50-billboard-editor-in-chief.html | url-status=live }}</ref> but was replaced by Keith Girard, who was subsequently fired in May 2004. Girard and a female employee filed a $29&nbsp;million lawsuit alleging that ''Billboard'' fired them unfairly with an intent to damage their reputations<ref name="Jurkowitz 2004">{{cite news | last=Jurkowitz | first=Mark | title=Lawsuit is latest in list of tough hits for Billboard | newspaper=Boston Globe | date=August 12, 2004 | url=https://www.boston.com/ae/music/articles/2004/08/12/lawsuit_is_latest_in_list_of_tough_hits_for_billboard?pg=full | access-date=November 5, 2015 | archive-date=September 24, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924003805/http://www.boston.com/ae/music/articles/2004/08/12/lawsuit_is_latest_in_list_of_tough_hits_for_billboard?pg=full | url-status=live }}</ref> and that they experienced sexual harassment, a hostile work environment and a financially motivated lack of editorial integrity.<ref name="Jurkowitz 2004"/><ref name="Grinberg 2005"/> Email evidence suggested that human resources were given special instructions to watch minority employees.<ref name="Grinberg 2005">{{cite web | last=Grinberg | first=Emanuella | title=New motion details racial profiling claims against Billboard magazine | publisher=CNN | date=April 6, 2005 | url=http://www.cnn.com/2005/LAW/04/06/billboard/ | access-date=November 5, 2015 | archive-date=October 16, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201016201329/http://www.cnn.com/2005/LAW/04/06/billboard/ | url-status=live }}</ref> The case was settled out of court in 2006 for an undisclosed sum.<ref name="Tsioulcas 2015">{{cite web | last=Tsioulcas | first=Anastasia | title=Why Is 'Billboard' Asking Industry Execs If They Believe Kesha? | publisher=NPR | date=August 23, 2015 | url=https://www.npr.org/sections/therecord/2015/08/23/433466416/why-is-billboard-asking-industry-execs-if-they-believe-kesha | access-date=November 7, 2015 | archive-date=November 7, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151107142709/http://www.npr.org/sections/therecord/2015/08/23/433466416/why-is-billboard-asking-industry-execs-if-they-believe-kesha | url-status=live }}</ref>

In the 2000s, economic decline in the music industry dramatically reduced readership and advertising from ''Billboard''{{'}}s traditional audience.<ref name="Jurkowitz 2004"/><ref name="Sisario 2014">{{cite web | last=Sisario | first=Ben | title=Leadership Change May Signal New Start for Billboard Magazine | website=The New York Times | date=January 8, 2014 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/09/business/media/leadership-change-may-signal-new-start-for-billboard-magazine.html | access-date=November 6, 2015 | archive-date=December 13, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201213225916/https://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/09/business/media/leadership-change-may-signal-new-start-for-billboard-magazine.html | url-status=live }}</ref> Circulation declined from 40,000 in circulation in the 1990s to less than 17,000 by 2014.<ref name="Tsioulcas 2015"/> The publication's staff and ownership were also undergoing frequent changes.<ref name="Grinberg 2005" />

In 2004, Tamara Conniff became the first female and youngest-ever executive editor at ''Billboard'' and led its first major redesign since the 1960s, designed by Daniel Stark and Stark Design. During Conniff's tenure, ''Billboard''<nowiki/>'s newsstand sales jumped 10%, ad pages climbed 22% and conference registrations rose 76%.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.crainsnewyork.com/awards/tamara-conniff|publisher = Crain's New York Business|work = 40 Under 40|title = Tamara Conniff, 33|date = January 2006|last = Flamm|first = Matthew|access-date = September 28, 2018|archive-date = September 28, 2018|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180928200736/https://www.crainsnewyork.com/awards/tamara-conniff|url-status = live}}</ref> In 2005, ''Billboard'' expanded its editorial outside the music industry into other areas of digital and mobile entertainment. In 2006, after leading Billboard's radio publication, former ABC News and CNN journalist Scott McKenzie was named editorial director across all ''Billboard'' properties.<ref>{{Cite magazine | url = https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/1359192/billboard-promotes-key-editors|title = Billboard Promotes Key Editors |magazine =Billboard|date = January 13, 2006 }}</ref> Conniff launched the ''Billboard'' Women in Music event in 2007.<ref>{{cite news|url = https://www.cbsnews.com/news/reba-named-woman-of-the-year/|work = CBS News|date = September 14, 2007|title = Reba Named Woman Of The Year|agency = AP|access-date = April 17, 2020|archive-date = April 20, 2020|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200420093450/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/reba-named-woman-of-the-year/|url-status = live}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release|url = https://www.prlog.org/11313060-top-music-exec-joins-worldmusiclink.html|website = PRLOG|title = Top Music Exec joins WorldMusicLink|date = February 18, 2011|access-date = August 14, 2020|archive-date = November 26, 2020|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201126093030/https://www.prlog.org/11313060-top-music-exec-joins-worldmusiclink.html|url-status = live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title = Billboard chooses Reba McEntire as its first 'Woman of the Year' |url = https://www.ocregister.com/2007/09/14/billboard-chooses-reba-mcentire-as-its-first-woman-of-the-year/ |date = September 14, 2007 |work = The Orange County Register |access-date = August 14, 2020 |archive-date = December 4, 2020 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201204062945/https://www.ocregister.com/2007/09/14/billboard-chooses-reba-mcentire-as-its-first-woman-of-the-year/ |url-status = live }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|title = McEntire Named Billboard's Woman Of The Year|magazine = Billboard|date = September 17, 2007|url = https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1049244/mcentire-named-billboards-woman-of-the-year|access-date = August 14, 2020|archive-date = June 22, 2018|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180622052816/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1049244/mcentire-named-billboards-woman-of-the-year|url-status = live}}</ref>

Bill Werde was named editorial director in 2008,<ref name="one"/> and was followed by [[Janice Min]] in January 2014, also responsible for editorial content at ''The Hollywood Reporter''.<ref name="one">{{cite news |last=Lewis |first=Randy |title=Billboard Shakeup puts Hollywood Reporter's Janice Min in Charge |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/posts/la-et-ms-billboard-hollywood-reporter-janice-min-20140109,0,2774613.story |date=January 9, 2014 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |access-date=January 13, 2014 |archive-date=January 12, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140112181529/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/posts/la-et-ms-billboard-hollywood-reporter-janice-min-20140109,0,2774613.story |url-status=live }}</ref> The magazine became more of a general-interest music-news source rather than solely an industry trade, covering more celebrity and fashion news.<ref name="Tsioulcas 2015"/><ref name="Sisario 2014"/><ref name="Sisario 20142"/> Min hired Tony Gervino as editor although he did not have a background in the music industry.<ref name="Sisario 20142">{{cite web | last=Sisario | first=Ben | title=Billboard Names Tony Gervino as Editor | website=The New York Times | date=April 7, 2014 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/08/business/media/billboard-names-tony-gervino-as-editor.html | access-date=November 6, 2015 | archive-date=December 13, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201213225945/https://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/08/business/media/billboard-names-tony-gervino-as-editor.html | url-status=live }}</ref> Gervino was appointed editor-in-chief in April 2014.<ref name="Steigrad 2014">{{cite web | last=Steigrad | first=Alexandra | title=Billboard Names Tony Gervino Editor in Chief | website=Women's Wear Daily | date=April 7, 2014 | url=http://wwd.com/globe-news/fashion-memopad/billboard-names-tony-gervino-editor-in-chief-7632887/ | access-date=November 5, 2015 | archive-date=December 5, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201205074636/https://wwd.com/globe-news/fashion-memopad/billboard-names-tony-gervino-editor-in-chief-7632887/ | url-status=live }}</ref> An [[National Public Radio|NPR]] item covered a leaked version of ''Billboard''{{'}}s annual survey, which it said had more gossip and focused on less professional topics than had prior surveys. For example, the magazine polled readers on a lawsuit that singer [[Kesha]] filed against her producer, alleging sexual abuse.<ref name="Tsioulcas 2015"/>

Gervino was fired in May 2016. A note from Min to the editorial staff indicated that senior vice president of digital content Mike Bruno would head the editorial department.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.adweek.com/fishbowlny/billboard-tony-gervino-exit/374269|title=Billboard EIC Tony Gervino Exits on a High Note|website=Adweek |date=May 2, 2016 |access-date=August 15, 2016|archive-date=January 9, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190109230120/https://www.adweek.com/fishbowlny/billboard-tony-gervino-exit/374269/|url-status=live}}</ref>
On June 15, 2016, [[Billboard Philippines|BillboardPH]], the first ''Billboard'' chart company in Southeast Asia, mainly in the Philippines, was announced.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/7407932/billboard-philippines-algorhythm-partnership|title=Billboard Partners with AlgoRhythm to Launch Billboard Philippines|magazine=Billboard|date=June 15, 2016|access-date=June 30, 2017|archive-date=June 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170609155547/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/7407932/billboard-philippines-algorhythm-partnership|url-status=live}}</ref> On September 12, 2016, ''Billboard'' expanded into China by launching ''[[Billboard China]]'' in partnership with Vision Music Ltd.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/7503731/billboard-launching-in-china|title=Billboard Launches in China|first=Lyndsey|last=Havens|magazine=Billboard|date=September 12, 2016|access-date=August 10, 2016|archive-date=September 14, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160914165039/https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/7503731/billboard-launching-in-china|url-status=live}}</ref>

On September 23, 2020, it was announced that [[Penske Media Corporation]] would assume operations of the MRC Media & Info publications under a joint venture with MRC known as PMRC. The joint venture includes the management of ''Billboard''.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Ellefson|first=Lindsey|date=September 23, 2020|title=Variety Parent Penske Media to Take Over Hollywood Reporter, Billboard in Joint Venture With MRC|url=https://www.thewrap.com/variety-parent-penske-media-to-take-over-hollywood-reporter-billboard-in-joint-venture-with-mrc/|access-date=September 23, 2020|website=TheWrap|language=en-US|archive-date=September 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200924171830/https://www.thewrap.com/variety-parent-penske-media-to-take-over-hollywood-reporter-billboard-in-joint-venture-with-mrc/|url-status=live}}</ref>